'Seoul High School graduate Dolin's' baseball study abroad in Busan a great success! Busan University of Science and Technology's Kwak Byung-jin emerges as top college prospect: "No regrets at all, confident in both starting and relief roles" [Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

A promising pitcher familiar to Doosan Bears fans will emerge in the 2027 KBO Rookie Draft. The star is Kwak Byung-jin (20, Busan University of Science and Technology), a right-handed pitcher from Seoul High School.

Kwak Byung-jin is a right-handed pitcher with a powerful fastball that stands out from his large frame—191cm tall and weighing 95kg according to the Korea Baseball and Softball Association (KBSA). Over two years in college, he recorded 23 games, 7 wins with no losses, an ERA of 1.29, 49 innings pitched, 18 walks, 70 strikeouts, and a WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) of 0.82. Scout A from a KBO team told StarNews, "Kwak Byung-jin's greatest strength is undoubtedly his fastball. He also throws sharp breaking balls well, making him a highly anticipated pick."

This is a great opportunity to heal from the pain of two years ago. Kwak Byung-jin's alma mater, Seoul High School, sent three pitchers to the professional ranks in the 2025 KBO Rookie Draft: Kim Dong-hyun (20, KT, 1st round, 9th overall), Kim Young-woo (21, LG, 1st round, 10th overall), and Choi Min-seok (20, Doosan, 2nd round, 16th overall).

Not included among them, Kwak Byung-jin boldly boarded the train to Busan. Even now, he travels between Seoul and Busan every weekend to attend private lessons. Kwak Byung-jin recently told StarNews, "I heard many times that Busan University of Science and Technology is a great school. I had acquaintances and seniors there, and I decided to enroll because it's known as a school that excels in baseball."

He continued, "I have no regrets at all. Since coming to college, my breaking ball quality and velocity have improved. My game management on the mound has also gotten better, and I've gained confidence. I throw fastballs, curves, sliders, and splitters, and I'm most confident with my fastball and slider."

His baseball study abroad in Busan has been a great success so far. Due to the slow growth of high school players this year, strong performances from many college players are expected. Among them, Kwak Byung-jin is considered one of the top college prospects who can contribute immediately.

Scout B from another KBO team also commented, "He's the best among college players. His fastball reached up to 150 km/h, and although he had a slight slump recently, he's now back on a recovery track. How well he can utilize his breaking balls in the future will be important."

He dreams of meeting his Seoul High School friends who went pro first in the KBO League. Among them, he looks forward to meeting Choi Min-seok. Kwak Byung-jin smiled and said, "I've liked Doosan since I was young. My favorite player was Dustin Nippert. My role model is Kwak Bin. He throws hard and his pitching form is similar to mine, so I actually study him a lot."

He also added, "I'm both nervous and excited, but my splitter quality still needs improvement. I'd like to throw up to 152 km/h before the draft. I warm up quickly, so I'm fine with either starting or relief roles. I'll strive to win the championship with my team and take on the challenge in the remaining time."

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*This content was translated by AI.